Background

In 2009, the Fondation took the initiative to launch the Summer University of Continental Law. Indeed, until now, there was no international meeting place for students and professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge of different systems of continental law. This meeting is an opportunity to make multiple contacts on the sidelines of the main activities in support of the projects of the Fondation. This is a true international campus, held each year.

The advantages of this approach are the quality of international professors and practitioners, the richness of their networks, its location at the Paris 2 University, and accommodations at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.

The objective

A summer University of Continental Law in Paris for three weeks in July enables an annual gathering of all specialists in comparative law at the international level, whether they are students, professors, legal professionals, or policy makers of all nations.

The means

Launched in July 2009, the University of Continental Law was developed in 2010 providing two training courses in 2010, one in French, and one in English. The high quality of the speakers is essential and leads to significant participant attendance (22 different nationalities in 2009 and 28 in 2010). The training can be validated either in continuing education for legal professionals, or in credits for students.

The Summer University of Continental Law is partly funded by enrollments, and scholarships are also awarded under certain conditions to students.

The prospects

Destined to become a sustainable event, the Summer University of Continental Law in Paris aims to become the annual gathering for legal professionals around the world.

The Fondation launched a scholarship program for each session, and offers attractive prices to paying participants, mostly professionals. The hosting potential exists to accompany rapid growth in the number of participants.

After the first session, participants created the "Association for the University of Continental Law." A site of this Association will be hosted by the Fondation to enable participants to communicate among themselves and disseminate information. A network of lawyers with awareness of continental law will be generated through this medium.